Get your Ferry to the Isle of Wight - Wightlink Ferries The choice of three convenient routes – from Lymington and Portsmouth More sailings each day* than any other cross Solent ferry operator We’ve got the Island covered – Yarmouth in the West to Ryde and Fishbourne in the East Crossings from only 22 minutes* Great on board facilities – spacious lounges, refreshments and sundecks *More sailings each day is based on the combined total of all three Wightlink routes. Number of sailings each day varies throughout the year. Portsmouth Harbour Station to Ryde Pier Head in 22 minutes. Portsmouth to Fishbourne in 45 minutes and Lymington to Yarmouth in 40 minutes. Book your ferry ticket Isle of Wight Ferries ISLE OF WIGHT FERRIES Isle of Wight Ferries Online Ticket Sales and Reservations Agent Wightlink and Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferries operate the ferry service between the English mainland and the Isle of Wight sailing the Southampton to Cowes, Portsmouth to Fishbourne, Lymington to Yarmouth and Portsmouth to Ryde routes.

Southampton to Cowes Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries run every day of the year on four routes across the Solent and sail up to 230 times a day.Wightlink also have the fastest and most comfortable fleet on the Solent. Red Funnel Ferries has the newest cross-Solent fleet and operates the largest vehicle ferries ever to serve the Isle of Wight. They sail around the clock, 364 days a year between Southampton, the gateway to the Island, and East and West Cowes, the home of world yacht racing. About Red Funnel Ferries The Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Public Limited Company was formed in 1861. The Company is the original operator to the Isle of Wight and has a distinguished and colourful history spanning over 140 years. The Company's famous house flag was derived from the names of four steamers that were in the newly merged fleet in 1861- Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby and Pearl. The story began in the 1820's, when scheduled year-round Packet Services started operating between Southampton, Cowes, Ryde, Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour.

Excursion Services were also a mainstay activity during those balmy Victorian and Edwardian summers with daily trips along the South Coast and across the channel to France. In the 1900's, the growing interest in travel provided the Company with an important string to its bow - the provision of tendering services to the great passenger liners. Many would anchor in Cowes Roads and use Red Funnel's steamers for alighting passengers and transferring all kinds of cargo. In 1885 the Company expanded into Tug Ownership and continued to consolidate its market position throughout the wars. After World War II, recession and changing holiday habits led to the decline of the excursion business and preoccupation with the Southampton-Cowes packet services, particularly in light of growing car ownership and the transfer of cargo onto wheels. Diesel propulsion marked a turning point in the Company's history with the first purpose-built diesel vehicle ferries joining the fleet in the 1950's. It's rare for a firm to have survived for so long, and the Company is rightly proud of its illustrious history and grateful to those who've played a part.

Red Funnel Ferries Routes In addition to the scheduled packet services between Southampton and Cowes, Red Funnel also operated a wide variety of popular excursions along the South Coast which ran until the late 1930's. The Company's lengthy name perfectly illustrates the choice of trips available. Cruises were operated around the Isle of Wight from the outset, stopping at one of the resorts like Yarmouth, Totland or Alum Bay. Where no piers existed, landings were made using the ship's boats or via the services of local longshoremen. As more and more piers were built and the paddler's got faster, longer trips were possible including excursions to France. To extend coverage further, the Solent Queen and others were based at Poole and occasionally Bournemouth, so intensifying competition with local operators like Cosens & Co. Ltd.

Excursions from Southampton Ryde, Southsea, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor; the Needles or Round the Island Ryde, Southsea, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor; Bournemouth, Swanage, Weymouth, or Bognor Ryde, Cowes, Yarmouth, and Bournemouth Yarmouth, Bournemouth, Swanage, and onto Weymouth, Torquay, or Dartmouth Ryde, Southsea, Sandown, Shanklin and Brighton Ryde, Southsea and Eastbourne Southsea, Sandown, Shanklin and Cherbourg Bournemouth and Cherbourg Yarmouth, Cowes, Ryde, Southsea and cruise in Portsmouth Harbour Yarmouth, Round the Island (with stops at Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor or Ryde) Yarmouth, Ventnor, Shanklin, Sandown and cruise to the Nab Tower Cherbourg The outbreak of war in 1914 signalled the end of many of the piers, and so with it, many of the excursions, some of which had been running for more than 100 years.

A number were revived after WWI including Torquay, Eastbourne and Bognor Regis, In 1934 a day trip to Cherbourg from Southampton cost 12s 6d. Departing at 7.15am, calling at Southsea, Sandown and Shanklin, the ship was alongside on French soil by late morning, typically not departing for England until 4.15pm. By special agreement with the French Government, British excursion passengers were allowed to go ashore with landing cards rather than passports. Sadly all good things come to an end; in 1939 the last cross channel trip had been run and also the final excursions to Brighton, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Weymouth, Torquay and Dartmouth. Never again were pleasure steamers to call at Seaview or the Victoria Pier in Cowes and never again would Lorna Doone or Balmoral be seen going about their summer duties - a sight that had been part of the Solent scene for more than 40 years. This time it really was the end of an era.

After WWII some of the piers were repaired by 1945, and the Company attempted to restart its excursion business using less suitable second-hand ships. An innovation was trips round Southampton Docks and excursions to witness the arrival and departure of the great liners. However, the holiday market was changing fast and after a few years these fell victim as did sailings to Bournemouth and Swanage in 1952. Remaining excursion sailings decreased year on year until they were phased out completely at the end of the 1968 season. About Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries run every day of the year on four routes across the Solent and sail up to 230 times a day. Wightlink also have the fastest and most comfortable fleet on the Solent sailing the following routes: Portsmouth to Fishbourne in 35 minutes (car ferry) Lymington to Yarmouth in 30 minutes (car ferry) Portsmouth to Ryde in 15 minutes (foot passenger catamaran) For a quote or to make a Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferry online booking please use the secure online booking engine above.

37 Per Day Wightlink's Lymington to Yarmouth route is the shortest car ferry journey across the Solent and takes just 30 minutes. Each ferry offers café-bar facilities, a spacious lounge and observation deck. This crossing is ideal for foot passengers with mainland rail services arriving at the terminal and Island bus connections at Yarmouth. Wightlink's Portsmouth to Fishbourne journey takes 35 minutes. There are café-bar facilities, spacious lounges, observation decks and frequent round-the-clock sailings all year. Wightlink's Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head route is a foot passenger only route and takes around 15 minutes on Wightlink's our high-speed catamarans. There are onward rail connections at either port. Rail and coach services connect Portsmouth Harbour with London, Brighton, Bristol and the Midlands whilst trains along the pier connect the Pier Head and Ryde Esplanade with the popular resorts of Sandown and Shanklin. About Wightlink IOW Ferries Wightlink Ferries, with its predecessors, has been operating ferry services for over 160 years. From as early as 1796 ferries have been operating across the Solent linking the Isle of Wight to the mainland.

In the early nineteenth century the poor road systems encouraged people to travel by sea between Lymington, a beautiful port in the New Forest area, and Portsmouth. Originally, steam ferries operated a circular route around Lymington, Yarmouth, Cowes, Ryde and Portsmouth. The rail companies themselves became involved in the operation of the ferries with individual routes appearing between Lymington and Yarmouth and Portsmouth and Ryde. In the modern era, Wightlink Ferries has progressed the service from its early pioneering days of steam travel to operate a modern fleet of eight car and passenger ferries between Lymington & Yarmouth and Portsmouth & Fishbourne (historically, the youngest of the routes) and four high-speed catamarans between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier. There is also a seasonal service between Lymington and Cowes running during the world’s premier sailing regatta - Cowes Week. Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries History From as early as 1796, ferries have been operating across the Solent, linking the Isle of Wight to the mainland.

In the early nineteenth century, the poor road systems encouraged people to travel by sea between Lymington, a beautiful port in the New Forest area, and Portsmouth. Originally, steam ferries operated a circular route around Lymington, Yarmouth, Cowes, Ryde and Portsmouth, the rail companies themselves became involved in the operation of the ferries, with individual routes appearing between Lymington and Yarmouth and Portsmouth and Ryde. Ownership of the ferries eventually passed from the British Railways Board to Sealink UK Limited. In 1984, when Sealink UK Limited was de-nationalised, the operating name became Sealink British Ferries and was subsequently bought by the Bermudan based ‘Sea Containers Limited’. In 1990 Stena Line bought Sealink British Ferries, but the Isle of Wight Ferries remained with Sea Containers, who then renamed the company ‘Wightlink’. In June 1995 the company was the subject of a management buy-in and became a private company until 2005, when it was acquired by the Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund.

The company has progressed from its early pioneering days of steam travel to operate a modern fleet of eight car and passenger ferries between Lymington & Yarmouth and Portsmouth & Fishbourne (historically, the youngest of the routes) and four high-speed catamarans, between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier. In 1982, Wightlink Holidays was established, offering an easy to book package of holiday accommodation combined with the return ferry crossing. Now, Wightlink carries over 5 ½ million passengers, over 1.3 million cars and almost 200,000 coaches and freight lorries annually on its three routes to the Island. With twelve ships in the fleet, a revenue of some £50 million per annum and a DSCR of 1.22, it is a large and important business. About The Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight is the largest Island off the British mainland and a truly unique holiday destination. The Island’s mix of breathtaking countryside, golden beaches, fabulous attractions and a head-spinning number of things to do will make your holiday there an experience you’ll never forget.

Pick a break at one of the Island’s most spectacular walks and must-see shops or take part in all kinds of sports - from paragliding and kitesurfing to golf and horse riding. Whether you want to unwind or refuel, you’ll find our list of the great restaurants and pubs dotted throughout the Isle of Wight unmissable. The Isle of Wight offers a huge amount of tourist attractions for days out and short breaks. There is something for everyone and the many tourist attractions on the Isle of Wight include museums, such as the Bembridge Maritime Museum, the Smuggling Museum in Ventnor and the Isle of Wight Bus Museum in Newport. If you're into steam trains, you can visit the Isle of Wight steam railway in Ryde. For children, there are a huge amount of tourist attractions including the Isle of Wight Zoo and Dinosaur Isle in Sandown and Godshill Model Village.For those seeking arts and culture, visit Alum Bay Glass, Barton Manor Gardens & Vineyards as well as Osborne House in East Cowes. Appley Beach forms part of the three-beach, six-mile Ryde stretch, many of you considered Appley to be a beach in its own right.

And when asked to nominate your absolute favourite, Appley came fifth, well ahead of several more established Isle of Wight resort areas. Rated the cleanest beach, Appley’s fabulous expanse of golden sand is best experienced at low tide. Parking and Access: beach access from the road, parking in Appley Park. Public Transport: Take Southern Vectis bus along Esplanade. Amenities: Picnic area in Appley Park, nearby canoeing lake. Dogs: Not allowed May-September. Arreton Down is the largest area of unimproved chalk downland on the central chalk ridge of the Isle of Wight. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), supports an abundance of chalk grassland plants and butterflies and has superb views to the south over the Eastern Yar Valley. Arreton Down one of the many wildlife reserves managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. It covers 19 hectares (48 acres) of land. Grid Reference SZ 538 871.

Bembridge Beach is a candidate for best beach year round, walkers – especially those with dogs – and beachcombers love the peaceful atmosphere of this extensive beach, which adjoins the lively harbour and marina of a renowned sailing centre. Surrounded on three sides by the sea, with access to the shoreline at several points, Bembridge beach varies from sand to pebble and is a great place to collect shells or explore rock pools at low tide. Parking and Access: Several access points to the beaches, including main entrance by marina, car parking near harbour, Lane End (by Lifeboat Station) and Forelands. Public Transport: Southern Vectis bus from Ryde to Bembridge Crossway (30 mins approx). Amenities: Café, toilets, good pubs and restaurants in village and harbour, Shipwreck Museum. Dogs: No restrictions. Butterfly and Fountain World has landscaped indoor gardens with free flying exotic butterflies. Brilliant fountain displays. Small world jumping jets and italian and japanese water gardens with Koi carp. Gift shop, Hungry Catterpillar café with associated garden centre.

Opening Dates: Apr to Oct Opening Times: 10.00am to 5.30pm Flamingo Park Wildlife Experience is an award winning wildlife park features a unique hands on programme of events with entertaining keeper presentations. There is an incredible array of tame and exotic animals. Tortoiseshell Bay café and gift shop. Opening Dates: March to Oct Opening Times: 10.00am to 5.00pm Ryde Beach is not one but three sandy beaches stretching six miles – with views out to the Solent and its busy boat life – have made Ryde one of the UK’s best loved resorts. Busier at the pier end, safe, shallow waters make Ryde a great choice for families with younger children and at low tide there’s a huge expanse of clean sand for digging castles. Blue Flag Award Parking and Access: Parking along Esplanade and at Canoe Lake. Easy access to beach along Esplanade. Public Transport: Easy walking from the Wightlink FastCat terminal on Ryde Pier Head or hop on a bus along Ryde Esplanade.

Amenities: Large seafront esplanade with amusement arcades, playground, bowling alley, canoeing lake and paddling pool. Town cafés, pubs and restaurants nearby. Toilets. Lifeguards patrol beach in summer. Dogs: Not allowed May-September. (See also Appley Beach) Seaview Beach is the newest entrant into Wightlink’s top ten beaches, Seaview was voted best beach for winter visits and was second only to near neighbour Bembridge for walkers. Primarily a sailing village, Seaview doubles up as a traditional family resort with three attractive beaches – Springvale, Seagrove Bay and Priory Bay. At the village end, the beach is sandy at low tide, revealing large areas of crab and shrimp-rich rockpools. Parking and Access: Limited parking in Seaview village and Seagrove Bay. Parking for around 100 cars at Springvale beach, including spaces for the disabled. Public Transport: Southern Vectis buses from Ryde to Springvale and Seaview (5-8 mins) Amenities: Various cafés and bars in Seaview village; café at Springvale. Toilets, including facilities for disabled people at Springvale.

Seaview Wildlife Encounter close to Springvale. Dogs: Restricted May-September. Isle of White Sailing and Cowes Week The Isle of White is internationally renouned for sailing with the coverted Cowes Week being a highlight on every yachting calendar. The Royal Victoria Y.C. is a friendly, family Club situated at the mouth of beautiful Wootton Creek on the north coast of the Isle of Wight and just five miles eastward from the famous yachting centre of Cowes and host to the Cowes Sailing Week. Gurnard Sailing club is home of Cowes Dinghy Week. It is a championship venue and is a RYA Recognised Training Establishment. Visitors and New Members are welcome. It offers a fabulous Solent sailing location and regular social events. The Junior Offshore Group is a club that organises offshore races for IRC yachts racing from the Solent. JOG races are typically intended to be completed in a weekend, including any return voyage. We also run an Inshore series of races which consist of races round marks in or near the Solent, again ending in a nearby port.

For novice sailors there is The United Kingdom Sailing Academy that is a registered charity and a non profit making organization that offers residential courses in Dinghy Sailing, Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, and Kayaking from 8 years upwards. Located on the Isle of Wight, they have access to some awesome training venues suited to all levels of ability and all within easy reach from their base in Cowes. For further info call Wez on 01983 203045 or email wez@uksa.org The Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club was established in 1952 by the late 'Tiny' Mitchell as a club for local yachtsmen. It has evolved largely through the voluntary labours of it's members to become a popular venue for both racing and cruising yachtsmen. It is the only club in Cowes that can provide marina berths and shoreside boat storage facilities to it's members. Wighltink Isle of Wight Ferries provides special additional sailings to Cowes during the major yachting and sailing regatta season.

Isle of Wight Ferry & Tourist Information Help for the Disabled Traveller - Wightlink Ferries staff will make every effort to ensure your journey is a comfortable and pleasant one. If you require assistance in any way, please inform a member of staff when you arrive at the terminal, or on board, and they will be only too happy to arrange for someone to help you. The Portsmouth-Fishbourne ferries have lifts from the car decks to the passenger lounge, where you will find disabled toilet facilities and all our terminals have wheelchairs available. If you wish to arrange assistance in advance, please call (023) 9281 2011. Safety and Security - The security of the vehicle and its contents is the responsibility of the driver or owner. Loose articles should be locked away or removed and you are advised to retain possession of anything valuable, such as cameras and binoculars. Sporting guns or other firearms are not permitted on the Portsmouth Harbour-Ryde Pier Head service. On car ferry crossings these items must be declared upon entry to the terminal area prior to boarding. (NB: Ammunition may not be carried, other than shotgun cartridges). On the Car Deck - Please remember to deactivate car alarms.

You are not permitted to carry petrol in cans, nor empty cans which have contained petrol unless they have been thoroughly cleaned. Vehicle fuel tanks should not be overfilled to cause spillage. Gas cylinders to the maximum of three per vehicle may be carried in the user vehicle provided they are adequately secured and turned off at source. Up to twelve small expendable cylinders may be carried but they must not be open or part-used. Any compressed gas should be declared upon entry to the terminal. Smoking - Please note that Wightlink Ferries operate a no smoking policy. Smoking is not permitted on board our vessels except on the open sundecks and is strictly prohibited on the car decks. Mobile Phones - Please note that for safety reasons mobile phones MUST be switched off whilst driving on and off all ferries. Travel Insurance - A special insurance scheme is available to all Isle of Wight ferries customers. Customers are advised to take out travel insurance when making their Wightlink Ferries booking. To check availability and reserve your Wightlink Isle of White Ferries and Red Funel Ferries ticket online please use the secure ferry ticket booking engine at the top of this page.

Isle of Wight travel guide - Wikitravel The Needles at Alum Bay Thatched cottages near the old church at Godshill The Isle of Wight has long been an excellent place for an upmarket but traditional seaside holiday, and has a number of individual beaches and towns that were very popular with the Victorians. However, it is also becoming a must visit destination for young people seeking watersports and outdoor activities generally. Cowes is a famous yachting centre and attracts the 'London set' together with members of the worldwide sailing fraternity during Cowes Week [2] in August. The island has a similar atmosphere to Guernsey or Jersey yet is much closer and is three times the size. Despite being only 15 miles across the sea from Southampton or 6 miles from Portsmouth it is a world apart in terms of scenery, culture and pace of life. Known as England In Miniature it offers an incredible amount of variety with the landscape changing dramatically in the space of a few miles and each town and village offering something different. Beaches are fantastic and the water quality is good. Historically the local economy has moved from being dependent on smuggling and farming to tourism with the coming of the railways.

There is in addition considerable light engineering and yacht building. The local newspaper is the Isle of Wight County Press, which has an incredible 90% readership, which is published from Newport every Friday. Any event will be advertised here. There are car boot sales nearly every day in the Summer advertised here. Get in[ edit ] Access to the island is across the Solent, a stretch of sea between the UK mainland and the island, by regular ferry, hovercraft or fast-cat from the mainland. Many of the ferries carry cars, but this can be expensive, the alternative is to travel by foot passenger and use buses and trains on the island but this will limit access to more rural locations and beaches. Car ferry travel tickets are for car plus four passengers and depending on the size of your party, bringing a car may actually work out cheaper than the passenger ferry. Hovercraft and fast cat fares are comparable, but the Hovercraft does not run very late and does not connect as easily with the trains. Prices increase for the fare with the length of the stay. Crossing time to the island is as follows.

From Portsmouth : 45 minutes by ferry, 15 mins by Fast Cat, or 10 minutes by hovercraft From Southampton : 55 minutes by ferry or 30 mins by Red Jet From Lymington : 35 minutes by ferry The major ferry routes are: Wightlink Fastcat passenger ferry [3] from Portsmouth Harbour rail station on the mainland to Ryde Pier Head on the island Wightlink car ferry [4] from Portsmouth to Fishbourne Creek (near Ryde) on the island. Wightlink car and passenger ferry [5] from Lymington on the mainland to Yarmouth on the island Red Funnel jetcat passenger ferry [6] from Southampton Town Quay on the mainland to west Cowes on the island Red Funnel conventional car and passenger ferry [7] from Southampton Town Quay to east Cowes Hovertravel passenger hovercraft [8] from the Southsea district of Portsmouth to Ryde Whilst on the ferry remember to pick up a free guide of things to do and if possible another of places to eat. These are updated twice a year and give useful information and phone numbers.

Weather[ edit ] Thanks to a southerly latitude and sheltered location, many parts of the Isle of Wight enjoy a very mild and sunny climate. The south-east of the island in particular is known for its high sunshine records and warm air. In winter, frost is rather rare. As at May 2008, the warmest month of the year so far was May with an average high of 20C (68F) and the coolest was January with an average high of 10C (50F) and the warmest day of the year enjoyed a high of 27C (81F). However, June to September are the warmest months. [9] By bus[ edit ] The island has is covered by a wide but expensive bus service (by the standards of a rural area) run by Southern Vectis [10] , including spectacular open-top services in West Wight and near Ryde.

Tickets can be bought from drivers and options include singles (up to £4.50), all-day "rover" passes [11] (adult price of £10 for one day, £15 for two), evening "NightRider" passes (£4 after 7 PM), and various discounts to cater to students and the island's retired population. Transfers aren't printed as singles are available to any destination even if a transfer is required. Additonal buses are run by Wightbus - run by the IoW County Council but do not have actual timetable information on their website as such. Buses run to Ventnor, Havenstreet and Brading. Their timetables can be found at Traveline [12] (official UK timetabling service) or iw-paths.cjb.net [13] . Day & week rover tickets are valid on WightBus routes, and also include travel on the Island Line train service.

By train[ edit ] There is a single public service railway line on the island, with a limited service running from Ryde Pier Head (connections with Portsmouth ferry) to Sandown , for local bus service to Dinosaur Isle [14] , and Shanklin , for connecting buses to Ventnor. It is run by Island Line [15] , and through tickets can be booked from any manned UK station. Cycling[ edit ] Cycling on the Island is a fantastic way to get around and keep green. The Island has over 200 miles of cycle ways much of which can be enjoyed by families off road. Major Trails to note are 'The Sunshine Trail' which incorporates Sandown, Shanklin, Godshill and Wroxhall in a 12 mile circular route. 'The Troll Trail' Which leads from Cowes to Sandown or visa versa (90% off road) approx 13 miles either way and 'Round the Island Cycle Route' which circumnavigates the Island on a reported 62 mile ride (not for the amateur or faint hearted). Cycles can be brought to the Island by foot passengers on any of the car ferries. Hire cycles are also available [16] .

See[ edit ][ add listing ] Alum Bay [17] is famous for the many different colours of sand which appear naturally on the beach. A traditional souvenir of the Isle of Wight is a picture or glass paperweight filled with the different colours - there are many stalls where you can get the wherewithal to make your own if you are so inclined. The bay is close to The Needles (see below) and accessible by stairs or by a ski resort-style chairlift. Blackgang Chine [18] was formerly a dramatic gorge through which one could walk to the sea. Following a catastrophic collapse, the Chine ceased to exist some decades ago, but the bizarre entertainment park there, with its animated figures, is still worth a visit.This is the world's first and oldest theme park Shanklin Chine [19] , a smaller gorge, can still be visited. Osborne House [20] . Although officially a summer home for Queen Victoria, she used it as her main residence for some time after the death of Prince Albert, her husband. Now owned and operated by English Heritage, most of the well-preserved house and grounds are open to visitors year-round.

Visitors planning to visit both Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle should consider becoming members of English Heritage; it can work out cheaper than buying individual tickets for family groups and allows free access to all other English Heritage properities for the rest of the year. Carisbrooke Castle [21] - located in the centre of the island, the castle is well worth a visit. Charles I was held prisoner here. The castle appears in the popular children's story 'Moonfleet', and the well which appears in the story, with a treadmill driven by a donkey (not worked very hard these days) is a popular tourist feature. Isle of Wight Steam Railway [22] , tel 01983-882204 from within the UK or +44-1983-882204 from outside. A former branch line resucitated to accurately recreate the atmosphere of the island's railways in the pre-war era, when the island was the home of already superannuated locomotives and coaches from the mainland.

Accessible by car at the steam railway's Havenstreet Station, or by changing from the island's one remaining public service railway (between Ryde and Shanklin ) at Smallbrook Junction. Open weekends and summer; see website or call telephone number above for precise opening days and times. £8 (adult); £4 (child); ticket entitles holder to unlimited travel on day of issue. The Needles [23] , a very famous headland and offshore rocks at the extreme western end of the island. Here you will find early sea defences such as the Needles Old Battery [24] , now preserved by the National Trust, and Tennyson Down, the national memorial to Alfred Lord Tennyson, and the sight of spectacular sea and land views. Accessible via Southern Vectis's open-top bus route 42 [25] , which runs half-hourly from Yarmouth and connects with the ferries from Lymington on the mainland. You can drive up to the Needles Battery if you are registered disabled, but you need tpo phone ahead to let them know you are coming in order not to face traffic coming the other way.

Steephill Cove, a cove only accessible by foot at the southernmost tip of the island near Ventnor . There is an incredible seafood restaurant right on the beach - the owners catch their own lobsters and crabs daily, you would find it hard to get fresher seafood anywhere! And the view from the tables over the cove and out to sea is breathtaking. Do[ edit ][ add listing ] Visit Ventnor Botanic Garden - the South Coast of the Island has a warm micro-climate allowing palms, banana trees and cactus to flourish, even in private gardens. It is regularly used by TV and film makers when locations like the South of France are required, in productions like Lady Chatterley's Lover. Much of the road network in the South passes through the lush flora and fauna of an area called the landslip which offers spectacular sea views between Ventnor and Niton. The Isle of Wight is, according to National Geographic Magazine, the 4th best location for dinosaurs fossils in the world. Fossil walks can be booked from Dinosaur Isle Museum at Sandown or the Fossil Shop at Blackgang Chine. Walk from Freshwater Bay to the Needles Battery over Tennyson Down.

Fantastic views over the west Wight and western Solent. From May to September the weather is often bright and warm, making a visit to some of the Island's beaches a good idea. Favourites: Colwell Bay - NW coast near Yarmouth. good golden sands, shallow shelf nice for family swimming and building sand castles. Can get busy, esp for parking, but there's generally enough space on the beach itself. Compton - SW Coast, off the Military Road. Popular for surfing when the wind is right. Lake - also on the S coast near ventnor. Windsurfing and sailing hire available. Bonchurch - beautiful. Sheltered, shallow coves get nice and warm if the sun's been out for a week or so (August). Sandown - a nicer town than Shanklin, as the beach is more extensive and the sand more attractive. The Isle of Wight has over 60 miles of beach to explore throughout the year.

The coast by Osborne House and King's Quay is private and around Newtown Ranges is MoD land In 2007, Blue Flag status was given to the beaches at Ryde East, Sandown and Shanklin for achieving the highest quality in water, facilities, safety, environmental education and management. Some 13 other Isle of Wight beaches were given Seaside Awards for above average water quality. ENCAMS environmental charity recommends the best 73 beaches in England, of which 11 are in the Isle of Wight. Some of these are subjective, such as "best for a nice seaside stroll", and if anything this is an underestimate. Walking is promoted by an annual Walking Festival. There is an extensive network of footpaths and bridle ways. The Ordnance Survey 50,000 scale Landranger map is half IOW and half in Hampshire, but the 25,000 explorer map is the same price and only covers the Island. Their are a number of "long distance trails" of which the coastal path is the longest at approximately 73 miles. gives details and photos of hundreds of walks. Music[ edit ] Isle of Wight Festival/Bestival.

Two major annual music festivals. IOW Festival is at Seaclose Park and Bestival takes place at Robin Hill Adventure Park. edit Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] Matt and Cat's Isle of Wight eating Out Guide, [26] . Over 350 independent reviews of places to eat on the Island - not written by the proprietors either. edit The New Inn [27] , Shalfleet is an excellent place to go for fresh, locally caught fish. It has a relaxed, traditional pub ambience and friendly service. Local ales and a wide range of wines are available to accompany your meal. Lake Fish Bar sells probably the best fish and chips this side of the Blue Dolphin in Hastings. You will need to book for the Baywatch at St.Helen's and probably the Crab and Lobster in Bembridge [28] , . The other restaurants in St.Helens are good but pricey. The Pilot Boat is fine and you will not usually need to book. The Black Cat in Shanklin Old Village does good Thai cuisine. Vernon Cottage in Shanklin Old Village is good for lunches.

number 3, 3 Bath Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7RN, ☎ 01983291714, [29] . daily from 6pm onward. The restaurant has a limited but excellent a la carte menu, seafoods-focused, with a wide range of wine list and not too expensive. The couple running the place were friendly and pleasant. Very reasonable prices for the quality of cooking! edit Drink[ edit ][ add listing ] The Isle of Wight has many country pubs selling food and local real ale. Adgestone Vineyard produces white wine which is used in Government state banquets when English wine is required to show off to foreign diplomats etc. Historically the local breweries were Mews, Langton at Newport and Burts at Ventnor. Most of the ex-Mews pubs were taken over by Whitbread, but local breweries have re-opened as Goddards and Yates. There are a few Gales pubs such as the Castle in Ryde. Isle of Wight tap water is generally very good for making tea. Bottled mineral water is produced under the name "Wight Spring" from Whitwell, where it was formerly a holy well.

Country Pubs with Food - The Hare & Hounds near Newport is something of an institution but has become rather oversized by unsightly back extensions. The White Lion at Arreton provides a good alternative. Nearby is The Dairyman's Daughter in the Craft Centre. The Fighting Cocks on the Newport Road holds a boot sale in the car park in summer The Crown Inn in Shorwell has fishponds and doves in its garden. However, if you want a pub with a stunning sea views and freshly cooked seafood try the Crab and Lobster Inn in Bembridge Sleep[ edit ][ add listing ] There is a Travel Lodge at Newport. There are hotels at all budget levels. The Isle of Wight Tourist Board maintains a vacancy list. There are a number of farms that provide accommodation and holiday cottages. Holiday cottages are often quite difficult to book late and relatively expensive compared with the rest of England. Many pubs also provide accommodation. Saturday night in Newport Town Centre is apt to be quite rowdy and not a good place to sleep near. Budget - "Xoron" is a houseboat converted from a wartime gun-boat. It is moored at Bembridge Harbour.

Top range - Bembridge Coast Hotel, Priory Bay Hotel (St.Helens), Farringford [Totland}. Farms- Newnham Farm, near Ryde. Pubs - The Crab and Lobster Inn has 5 B&B rooms, some with wonderful sea views and has a 4 star AA rating The Meadows is a family run B&B, it is virtually a home from home and is conveniently located close to Newport Town centre. The Meadows offers plentiful extras including a complimentary mini bottle of wine on arrival. Fort Victoria Cottage [30] is a Grade II former officer's cottage next to the sea in the Fort Victoria Country Park, near Yarmouth. St Maur Hotel (Isle of Wight Hotels), Castle Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, PO38 1LG, ☎ 01983 852306, [31] . St Maur Hotel can cater for a variety of visits. Available for short breaks or week-long stays, and any other occasion or event. Can organise your travel to and from the island.

edit Castlehaven Caravan Site, Castlehaven Lane, Niton, Isle of Wight, ☎ 01983 730495, [32] . Isle of Wight caravan park right on the waters edge giving incredible sea views. (50.57668,-1.289274) edit Villa Mentone Hotel, 11, Park Road, Shanklin PO37 6AY, ☎ 01983 864 101. A lovely, family-run hotel with a warm atmosphere. The building is a converted Victorian villa on a cliff overlooking the beach (2 minute walk). Budget prices with breakfast included (full English and continental). Amenities include: free wi-fi in the lounge area, tea & coffee in rooms, a small bar and dinners by request. The family who run the hotel is Sri Lankan, so ask for their authentic Sri Lankan curry- you won't regret it! Budget. edit Get out[ edit ] Portsmouth the historic home of the Royal Navy, is a good place for a day visit ( HMS Victory , HMS Warrior , Mary Rose , etc.). Gosport for the Submarine Museum.

Off-shore sightseeing cruises can be booked from Sandown Pier or East Cowes (Wight Line Cruises aka. Blue Funnel). Yarmouth to Shalfleet easy Map of the leg Maps courtesy of Google Maps. Route for indicative purposes only, and may have been plotted after the walk. Please let me have comments on what you think of this new format. Directions This leg starts off at the ferry landing in Yarmouth. Turn left out of the ferry terminal and head east along Quay Street. When Pier Street is reached opposite The Bugle Inn, turn right and then take the first road off to the left, the High Street. Follow the High Street eastwards for a fifth of a mile; after the last house on the left, turn left to join the promenade. Follow the promenade eastwards for a third of a mile; when a patch of scrubland is reached at ST363897, turn right to ascend some steps up onto the A3054 road. Turn left and follow this road as it curves eastwards through Bouldnor for about half a mile; the pavement soon ends, but the verges are wide enough to allow you to safely walk along them.

At SZ371897 turn left down an unsurfaced track called Victoria Road. This soon ends at the coast. Turn right to join a footpath that starts heading eastwards through woodland along the top of the cliffs; due to erosion it is best to be careful and follow the obvious paths and keep away from the edge. It soon descends to meet the foreshore before climbing up once more, slowly ascending with the remains of a concrete bunker - part of a battery - up the hill to the right, which might be obscured by trees. The path becomes easy to follow as it runs along the top of the cliffs, although they descend down to disturbed landslips rather than the sea. Eventually it emerges from the woodland at SZ387905. A path heads eastwards with a hedge on the left; it soon curves to the left to meet a track called West Close. Turn right and start following this eastwards; when a junction is reached turn left to head northeastwards along Cranmore Avenue for about a fifth of a mile until SZ391908. Turn right down a footpath with a driveway on the left; when the driveway ends continue on along the footpath as it heads eastwards across fields.

It skirts around to the south of Hamstead Farm, keeping the hedge on the left. Before another hedge is reached turn right to head eastwards with a hedge on the right. Continue roughly in the same direction across three fields until a track is reached at SZ398911. Head down this track northeastwards towards Hamstead Farm; keep the majority of the farm buildings on the right. Immediately after the farm, turn left down another track. This heads northeastwards, descending to meet the edge of the cliff and after half a mile reaches the foreshore by Hamstead Ledge. Continue eastwards along the foreshore, passing Hamstead Point. At SZ408919 turn right up some steps and take a footpath that head south across a field, with a hedge on the left. It then continues across an area of marshland for a short distance before climbing up into another field. Head southeastwards across this field with the marshland a short distance away to the left. When a hedge is reached pass through it, then turn right to head south with the hedge on the right. This emerges onto the edge of some more marshland at SZ411913.

A set of boardwalks carries the path south along the edge of the marshland, before turning sharply to the left to head eastwards along the southern edge. The boardwalk soon ends and a muddy path continues on; this can be slippery after wet weather. It is a relief when the path turns to the right to enter a field, then turns left to follow a hedge on the left eastwards until it ends at a track at SZ414912, with a jetty a short distance away to the left. Turn right and follow this track as it heads southwestwards, passing Lower Hamstead Farm on the left. After a quarter of a mile the track curves to take a more westerly course, and after further three-quarters of a mile it ends at a junction with another track at SZ400903. Turn left and follow the track southwards for a little over half a mile; it descends to cross Ningwood Lake. Shortly after this the track starts to climb and curves to the right; as it does so take a footpath that heads off to the left, entering the trees. It soon descends to meet a footbridge over a stream; cross this and enter a field.

Keep the hedge on the left as you head eastwards; at the corner of the field turn right and follow the hedge southwards until a stile is reached. Cross this stile to gain access to the A3054 road at SZ405892. Turn left and started following this road eastwards for half a mile. Again there is no pavement, but the verge is wide enough to allow you to keep away from the traffic. The road enters Shalfleet; shortly after the church on the right turn left to reach the New Inn, where this leg ends. Locations Yarmouth and Yarmouth Castle The town of Yarmouth was granted the first royal town charter on the Isle of Wight in 1135. It nestles at the mouth of the River Yar (as there are two Yar's on the small island, this one is known as the ï¿½westernï¿½ Yar). Several sackings by the French led Henry VIII to construct Yarmouth Castle in 1547. This is in the care of English Heritage, although it is rather dominated by the ferry terminal and pier that lie on either side.

The castle secured the town and led to the wonderful mix of buildings that stand around the High Street. Yarmouth Pier As the sole remaining fully wooden pier in the UK, Yarmouth Pier is a unique structure. At 700 feet long it grants good views along the Solent and across to the mainland UK. It was opened in 1876, and a passenger ferry service operated to it from Lymington until the 1960s. Eventually the adjacent vehicle ferry took over the passenger services, and it is now mainly a promenade pier. A small fee allows you to stroll across the water. It was threatened with demolition in the 1980s, but a renovation program was started that included people buying individual planks to raise funds. Shalfleet, the Newtown River and Newtown The Newtown River is an expansive flooded river valley on the northern coast of the Isle of Wight. It is a fairly remote area, with only two small villages bordering the river. The northeastern side of the river is inaccessible due to the presence of an army firing range. Shalfleet is a small village situated on the A3054 at the first crossing point of the Newtown River.

It has a lively pub and a church with a massive square tower. Newtown is a little hamlet - scarcely more than a collection of houses - on a promontory on the eastern side of the river. It is dominated by a large and impressive building standing beside on its own beside the road. This is the Old Town Hall, a superb building of red brick with stone dressings that was built around 1699. It is now in the care of the National Trust. Although a tiny place nowadays with no facilities, it was once an important port called Francheville; in 1344 it was twice the value of Newport, which is now the islandï¿½s capital. Unfortunately it was occasionally sacked, and a particularly bad raid in 1377 led to much of the town being burnt. By 1559 it had declined, but that did not stop it returning two MPs from 1584 until the Great Reform Act in 1832. Transport The half-hourly Southern Vectis Route 7 service runs between Alum Bay and Newport, calling at Yarmouth and Shalfleet on the way. Other walk accounts

Question: At which port on the British mainland would you land if you caught a ferry at Yarmouth, I.O.W.?
Answer: LYMINGTON